The Assembly is a digital magazine bringing backroom conversations to North Carolina’s front page. We focus on enterprise stories, revelatory scoops, and authoritative looks at under-covered topics, people, and places. Our stories surprise, inform, and leave readers with a better understanding of the state. 

We also lead The Assembly Network, which includes local teams around the state helping us shape the future of state-level journalism. The network also includes INDY in the Triangle, CityView in Fayetteville, Border Belt Independent in the Sandhills, and The Thread in Greensboro.

We offer a collaborative, innovative work environment where your ideas will be heard and valued. You’ll have the opportunity to make a real impact on a growing organization and on the communities we serve.

Together, we are redefining how North Carolinians connect with the places they live. Our mission is to deliver trusted local news, compelling storytelling, and uniquely voiced cultural recommendations that help readers understand and navigate what’s happening in their neighborhood, city, and state.

We aim to be a reflection of the state, with reporters from—and based in—diverse communities across North Carolina. We also aim to bring national talent to North Carolina that can help us improve the journalism ecosystem in a growing and important state. 

We want a newsroom that reflects a diversity of talent and perspectives. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, people who were formerly incarcerated, veterans, and people with disabilities.

Questions and applications should be sent to jobs@theassemblync.com.

Public Programming Director
Local Government Reporter, INDY
Magazine Editor, CityView

Current Openings

Public Programming Director

Location: North Carolina (statewide; Triangle-area preferred) 
Employment Type: Full-time

We’re hiring a public programming director to build and lead The Assembly Network‘s events strategy from the ground up. This is a rare opportunity to shape how a statewide journalism outlet shows up in the real world, bringing our editorial voice and community mission off the page and in front of curious, engaged North Carolinians.

The ideal candidate is an experienced events strategist who excels at both big-picture thinking and on-the-ground execution. You know how to design experiences that feel intentional and substantive, and you understand how events can deepen audience relationships, drive revenue, and elevate our presence in its community.

Responsibilities:

Event Strategy & Planning

  • Develop and own a statewide events strategy that reflects The Assembly Network‘s editorial mission, advances our business growth, and serves our audiences across North Carolina.
  • Identify and prioritize event formats—from intimate community conversations to large-scale public programming—that build meaningful connections between our journalism and the people it serves.
  • Build an annual events calendar that includes regional and topical event series, and a tent-pole, annual event.
  • Establish scalable processes and playbooks for event planning, execution, and post-event evaluation.
  • Track event performance and audience feedback to ensure our strategy is aligned with audience needs and reactions. 

Execution & Operations

  • Lead planning and execution for all Assembly Network events, managing timelines, logistics, vendors, and venues with precision.
  • Manage an event coordinator role to assist with execution, including the run-of-show plans, setup, execution, and personnel needs.
  • Partner closely with the editorial, audience, and marketing teams to ensure events are well promoted, grounded, and on-brand.
  • Manage event budgets responsibly, identifying opportunities to grow revenue and control costs without sacrificing quality.

Community & Partnerships

  • Work with the chief operating officer to cultivate relationships with community organizations, venues, and partners across the state that align with our event footprint.
  • Advise our business development team on sponsorship and partnership opportunities that align with our mission and add value for attendees.
  • Serve as an ambassador for The Assembly Network in communities across North Carolina, deepening our presence and trust with local audiences.

What We’re Looking For:

  • At least five years of experience in event strategy, production, or programming—ideally in media, journalism, or a content-driven organization.
  • A self-starter with a track record of designing and executing high-quality public events, both in-person and virtual.
  • Strong project management skills and an instinct for operational detail.
  • Experience managing vendor relationships, venues, and event budgets.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work  across internal teams and with external partners.
  • A genuine enthusiasm for journalism and community connection.
  • Familiarity with North Carolina’s communities and cultural landscape.

To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your experience and highlighting your approach to event strategy and execution. A work assignment will also be part of the hiring process. Applications should be sent to jobs@theassemblync.com.

Salary and Benefits:

Our starting salary for this position is flexible and dependent on experience. We’ll ask you to be upfront during the interview process with your needs, and we’ll do the same about our abilities. We offer a competitive benefits package that includes covering 80% of health care costs, 12 weeks of parental leave, and 20 days of PTO every year in addition to federal holidays. 

Local Government Reporter, INDY

Location: Durham 
Employment Type: Full-time

The INDY is looking for an ambitious, talented reporter to cover local government in Durham with a focus on public schools. The INDY publishes a website, daily newsletter, and a bi-monthly print edition, and is part of The Assembly Network’s collection of local newsrooms bolstering and deepening journalism in North Carolina. 

This reporter will balance covering breaking news and beat reporting on Durham Public Schools Board of Education, as well as covering Durham City Council and County Commissioners meetings as needed. This person will be responsible for producing 3-4 stories a week.

This reporter will also have opportunities to do more ambitious, deeper stories of interest to local and statewide readers that arise from the beat. That can also include contributing to the INDY’s culture section and collaborating with The Assembly on longer-form investigative and feature stories. 

The ideal reporter for this role will have:

  • At least three years of reporting experience, preferably at a daily newspaper
  • An eye for accountability 
  • An ear for narrative storytelling
  • An ability to work both independently and as part of a team
  • Original ideas about gaps in the local news landscape and how to fill them
  • A desire to build relationships and develop a deep knowledge of the community
  • A love of local journalism and government coverage

This role will report to the INDY’s editor-in-chief and will work closely with others across the organization.

Responsibilities:

  • Pitch and produce daily stories and occasional breaking news stories of interest to Durham readers.
  • Collaborate with other reporters and editors across the organization.
  • Build and develop relationships with sources and community members.
  • Cultivate a strong knowledge of the government beat.
  • Adhere to reporting deadlines.
  • Occasionally participate in community engagement opportunities, such as attending newsroom events for INDY readers.

Qualifications:

  • Three years of reporting experience (though we will consider less or equivalent experience as well). Experience writing for a daily newspaper is preferred.
  • Ability to write with a clear, engaging voice that connects with readers.
  • Demonstrated experience in pitching and publishing stories with impact.
  • Familiarity with public records law, the standards and ethics of journalism, as well as both the INDY and The Assembly’s work.
  • Experience with photography is a plus, but not a requirement. We are a small newsroom, so being adaptable and willing to learn is key. 
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively. 
  • Knowledge of and experience reporting in North Carolina, specifically Durham, is a plus.

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range is $58,000 to $62,000, with flexibility based on experience. We strive to be as transparent as possible in the interview process about what we can offer, and ask that you let us know your needs. We offer a competitive benefits package, including health care, parental leave, and life insurance. 

How to Apply:

To apply, we invite candidates to submit answers to the following questions: 

  1. Talk about your interest and experience in local journalism and accountability reporting. Also, tell us what you think the INDY should be covering to establish a strong local presence in Durham?
  2. Tell us about a favorite story or project you have worked on. What made it stand out for you?
  3. What is your approach to understanding a community or beat? How would you go about building, maintaining, and leveraging source networks in Durham?
  4. Describe a difficult reporting challenge you have faced, and how you overcame it.

Email answers in a pdf along with a resume, the names and contact information for three references, and links to three writing samples or clips to jobs@theassemblync.com. You do not need to send a cover letter.  We will begin reviewing applications on May 11.

Magazine Editor, Fayetteville

Location: Fayetteville 
Employment Type: Full-time

The Assembly Network is looking for an ambitious and experienced editor to oversee CityView Magazine, our monthly arts and culture magazine, as well as several special annual issues. This is an exciting opportunity to lead an award-winning monthly publication that has served Fayetteville and Cumberland County since 2006. You’ll join an editorial team that tells the stories of Fayetteville while also being part of The Assembly Network, which includes regional newsrooms working to bolster and deepen journalism across North Carolina.

The magazine editor owns the day-to-day editorial processes, workflow, and production management of the print magazine and special issues such as Destination FAY, Guide to Giving, and directories. They will work across editorial, art and creative, advertising, operations, and audience teams; supervise freelance writers and photographers; and assist CityView’s editor-in-chief with editing news stories and newsletter production.

This is a public-facing role in the organization, and the editor will be expected to develop and grow relationships in the community, and support CityView’s staff and board in outreach and appeals. The magazine editor reports to the editor-in-chief and will work closely with others across the organization.

The ideal candidate has at least 5 years of experience, which should include time spent reporting, editing, and managing reporters. This person should be enthusiastic about the future of local news and CityView’s role in contributing to the success of a dynamic news startup. 

Responsibilities:

  • Develop and implement an editorial calendar and production schedule for print publications.
  • Develop, assign, and edit stories from both staff reporters and freelancers, as well as assign photography, for each magazine issue.
  • Efficiently edit stories for both structure and clarity, and copyedit for grammar and style. 
  • Craft thoughtful, engaging headlines with an eye toward SEO best practices and social media strategies.
  • Select photography and art for print layout, working  with the creative director and production & design specialist.
  • Manage the magazine production schedule, working backward from strict monthly deadlines for copy, photos, proofing, and publication deadlines.
  • Manage sponsored content freelancers for print.
  • Upload magazine content to our content management system, and ensure the site reflects the current issue.
  • Coach reporters and freelancers through pitching, reporting, writing, editing, and production processes, and provide feedback on their work.
  • Assist with editing online-only news stories from staff reporters and freelancers.
  • Assist with producing and editing daily and monthly newsletters.
  • Manage CityView’s editorial intern, and hire future interns.
  • Collaborate with reporters and editors across the network.

Qualifications:

  • 5 years of journalism experience, ideally including time as a reporter and editor.
  • Demonstrated experience in conceiving and executing editorial strategy, preferably with a magazine or niche publication.
  • Proven ability to manage a fast-paced, multi-stage, and deadline-driven production process.
  • Experience managing and communicating with a team of full-time and freelance writers, columnists, and photographers, as well as cultivating a reliable and diverse stable of freelancers.
  • Able to write with a clear, engaging voice that connects with readers, and to self-edit.
  • Familiarity with the standards and ethics of journalism, as well as both CityView and The Assembly.
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • A highly-organized, resourceful, and proactive self-starter committed to accuracy and efficiency.
  • A working knowledge of—or eagerness to immerse yourself in—the character, people, politics, and culture of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

Salary and Benefits:

Our starting salary for this position is $65,000, though we are open to discussing higher salaries for more experienced candidates. We’ll ask you to be upfront during the interview process about your needs, and we’ll do the same about our abilities. We offer a hybrid work schedule based in our Fayetteville office, along with 20 days of paid time off and 13 company holidays. Our competitive benefits package includes health care, parental leave, and life insurance.

How to Apply:

To apply, we invite candidates to submit answers to the following questions: 

  1. Why Fayetteville, and why now? 
  2. A short critique of a recent issue of CityView Magazine. How would you have shaped the issue or approached the theme differently? (500 words max)
  3. Tell us about a favorite story or project you have worked on, either as a reporter or editor. What made it stand out for you?
  4. What excites you most about this role? What makes you nervous?

Submit answers in a Google Doc or pdf, along with a resume, three references, and links to three writing samples or clips to jobs@theassemblync.com. You do not need to send a cover letter. We will begin reviewing applications on June 18, 2026.

About The Assembly Network

The Assembly Network is North Carolina’s nationally recognized platform for in-depth, independent reporting about the people, institutions and ideas shaping our state. Our award-winning journalism reaches more than 130,000 email subscribers and four million website visitors. Assembly Network readers are decision makers, business and policy leaders, and community builders who shape perceptions and drive change.

The Network features local news operations in Cary, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, and the Border Belt, as well as a statewide team covering politics, health care, K-12 and higher education, and culture. 

The Assembly Network participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. We are an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. 

To apply please send your resume to jobs@theassemblync.com

While we do not have any additional openings at this time, we’d love to hear from you. Please send a note to jobs@theassemblync.com with your resume and clips, and we’ll stay in touch for future hiring.